Chancellor search committee to review 100 candidates

The search to find the next chancellor for the University of Massachusetts Lowell is beginning to narrow.

Members of the Chancellor Search Committee met in Boston yesterday with representatives from Korn/Ferry International, an executive recruiting firm, for a closed-door meeting to begin discussing applicants.

David Mead-Fox, senior client partner at Korn/Ferry International, said there has been a strong response from applicants.

Bob Connolly, associate vice president for university relations and communications, said the search committee is considering 100 candidates. "We are really pleased with the quality and caliber of the candidates," Connolly said.

While the committee completes the first round of interviews and narrows the pool of candidates, it is still accepting applications.

"It's an evolving situation," Connolly said. "Our search consultant is still looking for candidates, still reducing the field, but open to late candidates." Connolly said candidates outside of academia are also being considered for the position.

Connolly said the search committee is considering hiring from both the academic and business worlds. A slate of three to five candidates could be presented to UMass President Jack Wilson and the Board of Trustees as early as the March quarterly meeting.